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This study examined the hypothesis that prolonged (12 hrs) stimulation of adrenergic receptors by adrenaline and their blockade by regitine (alpha-blockade) or propranolol (beta-blockade) affect lactate thresh-old (T(LA)) and exercise tolerance in rats.Twenty-four untrained male Wistar rats performed a multistage running test on a treadmill with an intensity increased from 13 m/min to the maximum speed. After a control exercise test the animals were devided into three groups implanted s.c. with: 1) adrenaline; 2) propranolol and 3) regitine tablets. Twelve hours after the tablet implantation the exercise was repeated. Both before the exercise test and at the end of each 2-min loads blood lactate [LA] was measured to evaluate T(LA).Prolonged adrenaline excess resulted in reduced maximal running speed and shifted T(LA) towards lower exercise intensities than in the control test. Both alpha- and beta-adrenergic blockade reduced the work load at which T(LA) occurred, without changing the maximum running speed and maximal blood LA concentration. Blood [LA] at the lactate threshold ([LA] at T(LA)) was significantly higher in hyperadrenalinemic than in control rats, whilst under beta-blockade it was lowered in comparison with control values. Alpha-adrenergic blockade had no effect on [LA] at T(LA), but at the higher exercise intensities blood [LA] exceeded the respective control values.The present study demonstrated that prolonged excess of adrenaline reduces the maximum power output and T(LA). The former effect seems to be a result of simultaneous stimulation of both types of adrenergic receptors.

Maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max) and lactate threshold (LT) were measured during graded, incremental exercise in 8 healthy, untrained volunteers (aged 22 +/- 0.9 yrs) following 3 days on a control, mixed diet, or a ketogenic (50% fat, 45% protein and 5% carbohydrates) diet of equal energy content. Before and after exercise tests acid base balance, plasma beta-hydroxybutyrate (beta-HB), free fatty acid (FFA), and some hormone concentrations were determined. In comparison with the normal diet, the ketogenic diet resulted in: an increased VO2 max, decreased respiratory exchange ratio an a shift of LT towards higher exercise loads. Blood LA concentrations were lower before, during and after exercise. Post exercise blood pH, as well as pre-and post exercise base excess and bicarbonates were reduced. Resting beta-HB concentration was elevated to approx. 2.0 mM, and FFA to approx. 1.0 mM. During a 1 h recovery period beta-HB decreased to 0.85 mM (p0.01) after the ketogenic diet, while plasma FFA did not change after exercise under either conditions. Both the pre-and post-exercise levels of adrenaline, noradrenaline, and cortisol were enhanced, whilst plasma insulin concentration was decreased on the ketogenic diet. It is concluded that the short-term ketogenic diet does not impair aerobic exercise capacity, as indicated by elevated VO2 max and LT. This may be due to increased utilization of beta-HB and FFA when carbohydrate stores are diminished. Stimulation of the sympatho-adrenal system, and cortisol secretion with reduced plasma insulin concentration seem to be of importance for preservation of working capacity.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of 3 weeks altitude training according to the HiHiLo (live high-base train high-interval train low) procedure as described by Chapman et al. (1998), on erythropoiesis, maximal oxygen uptake and energy cost of exercise under normoxia in elite biathletes. Fifteen male elite biathletes randomly divided into an experimental (H) group (n = 7; age 27.1 ± 4.6 years; maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) 66.9 ± 3.3 ml·kg(-1)·min(-1); body height (BH) 1.81 ± 0.06 m; body mass (BM) 73.1 ± 5.4kg), and a control (C) group (n = 8; age 23.2 ± 0.9 years; VO2max 68.2 ± 4.1 ml·kg(-1)·min(-1); BH 1.75 ± 0.03 m; BM 63.1 ± 1.5 kg) took part in the study. The H group stayed for 3 weeks at an altitude of 2015 m and performed endurance training on skis four times per week at 3000 m. Additionally, the training protocol included three high-intensity interval sessions at an altitude of 1000 m. The C group followed the same training protocol with skirollers in normoxia at an altitude of 600 m. The HiHiLo protocol applied in our study did not change VO2max or maximal workload (WRmax) significantly during the incremental treadmill test in group H. However, the energy cost for selected submaximal workloads in group H was significantly (p0.01) reduced compared to group C (-5.7%, -4.4%, -6% vs. -3.5%, -2.1%, -2.4%). Also a significant (p0.001) increase in serum EPO levels during the first two weeks of HiHiLo training at 2015 m was observed, associated with a significant (p0.05) increase in hemoglobin mass, number of erythrocytes, hematocrit value and percent of reticulocytes compared with initial values (by 6.4%, 5%, 4.6% and 16,6%, respectively). In group C, changes in these variables were not observed. These positive changes observed in our study led to a conclusion that the HiHiLo training method could improve endurance in normoxia, since most of the biathlon competitions are performed at submaximal intensities. Key pointsThe observed results suggests that the 3-weeks HiHiLo protocol is an effective training means for improving energy cost during submaximal exercise at sea level.The 3-weeks HiHiLo protocol increased the rate of erythropoiesis and improved most haematological variables.However, the positive changes in the athletes haematological variables after the HiHiLo protocol did not contribute to the improvement of VO2max values.

Effects of thyroid hormone deficit, and triiodothyronine (T3) treatment on exercise performance, blood lactate (LA) concentrations and LA threshold (TLA) were studied in trained and untrained rats. Fourteen rats were thyroidectomized and then treated with propylthiouracil for 30 days (THY + PTU group). Fourteen sham operated rats served as controls. In each group there were 7 sedentary and 7 endurance-trained animals. Six weeks after thyroidectomy or sham operation the rats were subjected to a multistage running test with speed increasing from 13 m/min at 10 degrees treadmill inclination till maximum. Blood samples for LA were taken from the rats' tail after each 3-min exercise stage. During 3 days following this test rats from all groups were injected (i.p.) with 75 micrograms/100 g of triiodothyronine (T3), and 24 hrs afterwards the second exercise test was performed. In THY + PTU rats maximal running speed (RSmax) and the speed at which TLA occurred were markedly decreased in comparison with control group. The level of LA at the maximal speed (LAmax) and that corresponding to TLA were higher in THY + PTU rats than in controls. T3 injection to control animals diminished their RSmax and TLA, whereas in THY + PTU rats it increased RSmax and shifted TLA to a higher speed. Both in THY + PTU and control animals T3 elevated LAmax and the threshold LA concentration. Endurance training in control and THY + PTU animals markedly enhanced RSmax and TLA. This was accompanied by increases in LAmax and concentration of LA at TLA only in control group. After T3 injection to control trained rats RSmax and TLA were diminished, whereas in THY + PTU trained group RSmax was unchanged and TLA was elevated. Maximal blood LA increased only in THY + PTU trained rats whilst the threshold blood LA was elevated in both groups. It is concluded, that both the T3 deficiency and its excess reduce maximal exercise performance and shift TLA to lower workloads. Enduarance training or administration of T3 to hypothyroid rats markedly improve their exercise performance and elevate TLA, however, T3 treatment markedly increases maximal and submaximal LA levels.